South Korea rallies past Czechia 2-1 in World Cup opener

South Korea Rallies Past Czechia 2-1 in World Cup Opener

South Korea launched their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a dramatic comeback victory over Czechia on Thursday evening at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, overcoming a first-half deficit with two second-half goals to claim all three points in Group A.

Late Turnaround Seals Opening Day Win

Ladislav Krejčí gave Czechia the lead with what ESPN FC described as the nation’s first World Cup goal in nearly 20 years. South Korea, captained by Son Heung-min, struggled to break through in the first half but transformed after the interval. Hwang In-beom leveled the score in the 67th minute with a strike that beat multiple defenders, then turned provider for substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu, who scored the winner in the 80th minute to complete the turnaround.espn

The Washington Post reported that Hwang both scored and set up the decisive goal, making him the match’s standout performer. Head coach Hong Myung-bo had prepared extensively for the conditions in Guadalajara, which sits at 1,570 meters above sea level. The team established a preliminary training camp in Utah to acclimate, with staff monitoring players’ oxygen saturation levels throughout. Before the match, Hong told reporters he was “very satisfied” with the altitude preparation results.washingtonpost

Empty Seats Draw Scrutiny Despite Official Attendance

While South Korea celebrated on the pitch, the visible swathes of empty seats at the 44,985-capacity venue drew attention. Reuters reported that FIFA’s official attendance matched tickets scanned rather than seats visibly occupied. Fans at the stadium blamed elevated ticket prices, with Forbes reporting that resale prices had soared to nearly $4,000 in the hours before kickoff. Football Supporters Europe described the costs as “extortionate,” noting that prices had increased fivefold compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.yahoo

Group A Takes Shape

The result leaves South Korea in second place in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, who defeated South Africa 2-0 earlier on Thursday at Estadio Azteca. Czechia will look to recover against South Africa in their next fixture, while South Korea faces Mexico in what could prove a decisive encounter for group supremacy. The expanded 48-team format means the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advance to a new round of 32.aljazeera